People’s Open Bible
Hebrews 4
Enter God’s Promised Rest
Open in the reader →1Therefore, let us fear lest, while the promise of entering his rest still remains, any one of you should seem to have fallen short.
2For indeed, we also have had good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not united by faith with those who heard.
3For we who have believed enter the rest, just as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘If they shall enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works,”
5And in this place again: ‘They shall certainly not enter my rest.’
6Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not enter because of disobedience,
7Again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time, just as has been said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
8For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken later about another day.
9So then, a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God.
10For the one who has entered his rest has himself also rested from his works, just as God did from his own.
11Therefore, let us make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same pattern of disobedience.
12For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid bare to his eyes, to whom we must give account.
14Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession.
15For we do not have a high priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in every way according to likeness, yet without sin.
16Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for timely help.
Composed from original Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and Ge’ez manuscripts, rendered in multiple passes to stay as close to the originals as possible. About this project